May 22, 2016

Hey beauties, welcome to another shopping Sunday deals post. Today I have a great Beauty & Fashion Coupon Frenzy for you, with Groupon! Now most of you may be familiar with Groupon's premise of offering discounted certificates to its subscribers, sharing the deal-of-the-day in that metro area. But Groupon has grown so much over the years now providing an online marketplace where people discover and save on amazing things to do, see, eat, vacation and buy. By enabling real-time commerce across local businesses, travel destinations, consumer products and live events, shoppers can find the best a city has to offer!

In addition to the discounted deals, Groupon also offers coupons! Now, how great is that?! And these Groupon coupons range from stores to special events.

For example, my sister is in the process of moving, so I clicked on the MOVING DEAL link, and saw that Groupon had offers from Truck & Storage Rental Deals! Discounts like 20% Off With Budget Truck Rental Coupon to help her with her move, as well as some great offers for packing from the Container store and much, much more!

Now I know you’re wondering, Barbie what about some beauty & fashion deals??? Yes, beauties they have those as well! Check out some of the incredible offers Groupon has below for us BEAUTY & FASHION lovers from stores like Macy’s to Ulta Beauty! Oh, and while this isn’t beauty, they also have STARBUCKS Coupons on the Groupon Site!

Just to name a few, without further ado, check out some of the Beauty & Fashion Groupon Deals Below!

Express Coupon Offers, Right now you can get $25 off of every $100 you spend at Express, plus 69 other coupons are available!

And many more Groupon Coupons!

So as you can see, Groupon Coupons are a must to helping us save and feed our makeup and shopping fixes! So what are you waiting for, make sure to check out the entire Groupon site to see what other amazing coupons they have! And don’t forget to get social with Groupon as well by following Groupon on Facebook.

May 17, 2016

Skincare is essential at any age, but once you hit your 40’s hopefully you already have a regimen in place. While I have had a skincare regimen for my face for years, when it comes to other areas like my hands, feet, elbows and more, I, unfortunately, have been a bit neglectful and needed to do something to get it up to par! As there is no way I am going to sit back and let Mother Nature call the shots on my skin!

That is why I was excited when I was approached by AmLactin Skin Care to try out their powerful alpha-hydroxy therapy moisturizers. You see, skin anywhere can become dry, dull and unattractive. While our face is what most people see, those other areas of our body experience moisture loss and damage too. So having a line of defense, with products like those from AmLactin, can be essential if you want to STOP Mother Nature from taking its course on your body.

And beauties, do I have a plan of action to share with you today, with some Head To Your Toes Anti-aging Tips!

Now before I get into the products, I think it is important that you understand that as we get older, the skins natural renewal process slows down, which can cause dead cells to build up on the skin’s surface. This buildup can leave us with an uneven skin tone, roughness, and creates false wrinkles; it can also clog our pores, causing breakouts. Yuk, I know! And if that wasn't bad enough, our oil glands also become less active, which can make it harder to retain moisture in the skin. With moisture zapped, our confidence can sometimes follow. On the other hand, if our skin is properly hydrated, it will be able to defend itself against some of those environmental factors, like dry weather, soaps, and dirt that can wreak havoc on our skin over the years! That is why it is important that we have a great skincare regimen that is properly moisturizing and exfoliating our skin from the neck down!

So if you want to find out how you can Stop Mother Nature from taking its course on your skin, continue reading…

About the Brand:
Trusted by dermatologists for over 20 years, AmLactin Skin Care’s potent alpha-hydroxy therapy makes skin soft and smooth at any age. Its unique exfoliating and hydrating alpha-hydroxy therapy gently removes dead skin cells to reveal smooth, hydrated skin. It’s the difference between skin care and skin treatment. AmLactin moisturizers are available on Amazon.com and at your local Target, CVS, Walgreens, Costco, Walmart and Rite Aid.

So What Did I Get?

As you can see from the picture, they sent me a lot of products, needless to say; I was excited! I
was really happy when I found out that all of these products contained
alpha-hydroxy therapy, which is a must-have for dry skin associated with
aging! It also aids with my dry seasonal skin and the sun damage I have
on some areas of my body. Plus, I was able to show my neglected areas like my elbows, knees, feet and hands some needed TLC! Oh, and the products are fragrance-free too!!!

THIS IS A SPONSORED POST ON BEHALF OF AMLACTIN

Anti-aging Tips From Your Head To Your Toes

AmLactin® Moisturizing Body Lotion

I think I put my legs in shock with this product, why you ask? Well as I mentioned above I have neglected the area’s below my decolletage, and I didn’t realize how much my body needed this product. The AmLactin Moisturizing Body Lotion left my body feeling soft, but it went beyond that as I could tell that is was exfoliating my skin, especially my dry snake looking legs, that have been hidden over the last few months.

Other Details

The consistency of the product was thinner than I anticipated, it is important to shake it well before use.

I applied this right after I had shaven my legs, and unfortunately, it did cause a bit of stinging, which did go away. So keep this in mind when applying.

Clinically proven 12% lactic acid, pH-balanced for the skin

AmLactin® Ultra Hydrating Body Cream

Properly exfoliating your skin is a must if you want healthy, glowing skin, especially in our 40’s when the body is slower at shedding dead skin cells and generating new ones! This hydrating cream sure helped in showing my elbows and knee’s some love! With the constant motion of our knees and elbows, they are exposed to a lot of abuse.

AmLactin® Cerapeutic® Restoring Body Lotion

This is the only formula to combine clinically proven, patented ULTRAPLEX® and three essential ceramides to relieve extreme dryness for 24 hours.

Details:

This non-greasy formula worked wonderfully on my hands and stomach.

The skin on our hands is much thinner than the skin on our face, and it is one area that can show your age. Plus with the constant daily exposure to hot water and soaps it can affect the skin's ability to retain moisture.

My Stomach: This is another area I neglected over the years, especially when it came to an SPF, so the skin on my stomach has some sun damage. While I know this is not going to go away, making sure that I applied this moisturizer (and some of the others) in this area, helped to lock in the moisture, giving my skin a much smoother appearance. AND the mild exfoliation to this area actually made the biggest difference out of all the areas on my body.

AmLactin® Foot Cream

This is one great way to revive your feet and toes! Because when your feet feel good, your whole body feels refreshed and energized. Plus, the cold weather can drain away moisture from your feet, so getting them spring ready requires some moisturizing! For gentle exfoliation and intense hydration, you want to apply the AmLactin Foot Cream all over your feet and toes. Don’t forget your heels!

In addition to selecting a great skincare product, you need to make sure you are drinking plenty of water...Proper hydration is essential for healthy skin

So hopefully, this is something you’ve been doing for years! When you add drinking plenty of water to your skincare regimen, it can help your skin to look plumper and minimize the signs of aging. Make it a habit of having a glass of water or bottled water near you at all times.

IMPORTANT: Once you realize you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated, and no one wants dehydrated skin, so plan ahead!

Overall beauties, nearly two-thirds of U.S. women report that the older they get, the more difficult it is to keep their skin moisturized. It needs to be a routine, and more importantly finding a product that offers many benefits. And while I’ve only been using AmLactin body moisturizers for a short period, I’ve made the conscience decision to now implement a daily moisturizing routine that includes my ENTIRE body!

So what are you waiting for? STOP Mother Nature From Wreaking Havoc On Your Skin NOW!

BONUS:
Would you like to try AmLactin Skin Care for FREE? Enter below for my $100 In Product Soft Skin Giveaway!

CONGRATS TO Shawna OBrien

a Rafflecopter giveaway*Giveaway is open to United States residents only. Product and shipping provided by AmLactin Skin Care. The giveaway ends on 6/16/16 @ 11:59 PM EST. The winners will be chosen using random.org and will be notified via email no later than 06/20/16. The winner has 48 hours to claim prize before it's forfeit and another winner is chosen. Entering the giveaway, you must be 18 years or older. Void where prohibited.

May 16, 2016

Welcome beauties it is Mask Madness month, and I am here to share with you some great beauty Masks that I’ve been using over the past few months. As most of your know I am a skincare junkie, I’ve tried tons of products, but only share the good ones with my readers. And today do I have an amazing mask to help kick off my Mask Madness Month!

For this post I have partnered up with Valentia, to share with you one of their newest products in their skincare line which is the Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask - With Kaolin Clay, Hisbiscus & Cranberry Fibers! Now before I get into the mask I wanted to tell you a bit about the Valentia brand.

This Is A Sponsored Post On Behalf Of Valentia Skin Care

About Valentia Skin Care
The Roman Goddess of healing, Valentia, relied on nature’s gifts to heal the citizens of Umbria. Whether matriarchs seeking to maintain their youthful look or farmers seeking help for sun damaged skin, Valentia used berries, herbs, barks and other natural ingredients. They rely on all natural ingredients due to their protective, preventative and corrective powers.

Just like their namesake, Valentia Skin Care products have been formulated with natural and organic cosmetic ingredients that will repair and protect the skin.

After performing extensive research into what skin care customers find most important, Valentia found an overwhelming demand for skin care that is natural, free of toxins and paraben-free. Natural ingredients with an organic base have proven most effective at repairing skin damaged by the sun or the wind, preventing signs of aging such as wrinkles, dark spots, and reversing the effects of oxidative stress on the skin.

The Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask
This mask is so amazing and beauties the smell is to die for. I am not a big fan of products with a scent. But this mask is 100% nature and the fruity scent, smells good enough to eat.

This clay mask is not your ordinary mask! You see, our skin is constantly subjected to dirt, environmental pollutants and of course makeup. All of this leaves a film on our face acting as a barrier to skincare products. This buildup can leave us with an uneven skin tone, roughness, and creates false wrinkles; it can also clog our pores, causing breakouts. Yuk, I know! And if that wasn't bad enough, all of these will also make us appear older! But, Valentia’s Kaolin Clay helps pull out this dirt and other impurities from the skin, offering a deep cleanse that left my face feeling amazing.

Plus, the Hibiscus and Cranberry Fibers are doing their job helping to exfoliate my skin as well as removing any buildup that I had.

Key Ingredients
One of the things that I love about the Valentia brand is that the ingredients are all natural. Aside from the Kaolin Clay, Hibiscus, and Cranberry Fibers, there are some other key ingredients that I feel is important to mention as they all work together helping to repair and hydrate the skin.

Plant Stem Cells: Naturally decreases the level of pro-aging toxins and works to soother the skin, reduce redness, and improve evenness.

Spirulina: A botanical stimulant full of vitamins that hydrate the skin's surface and contributes to tissue regeneration of the skin.

How To Use
A lot goes a long way with this product. While it does have the fibers to help slough off that old dead skin that can cause false wrinkles, the texture was surprisingly creamy to the touch.

You want to apply this product all over your face avoiding the eye area.

Leave on your skin for 15-20 minutes or until mask dries. As it hardens you can start to feel some tightness, but it is not uncomfortable at all.

You want to wipe it off with a damp cloth soaked in warm water. I used a makeup eraser in a circular motion to also help to exfoliate and remove and left over the dead skin. The mask does come off very easily, and it doesn't make a mess like some other products I’ve used in the past.

Final Thoughts
This mask is one of my favorite detoxifying masks, and that is why I decided to share the details on this mask first in my Mask Madness series.

You can see from the photo below, the glow in my skin. At first, I was in fear that this mask was going to leave my face feeling dry, but it did the complete opposite. It is so hydrating and left my face feeling soft and as if I just applied moisturizer. I could instantly see and feel a difference in my skin's texture. Also, the exfoliation left my skin ready for makeup application as makeup always goes on better with clean skin!

Aside from the Kaolin that has helped to keep my pores clean and clear off the stuff I expose my face to daily, this mask also contains CoQ10, which is supposed to help stimulate collagen production while tightening my pores. YEAH!

One thing I did notice when using this mask was a stinging sensation, which may bother some. While it wasn’t something too severe that would prevent me from wanting to continue using it, I did want to make you aware of this.

Being BEAUTYful is more than skin deep! But most of us seem to forget this because of our lack of self-confidence. Having that little push to help “Bring out the Bold Beauty” within us is key to what makes us stand out and shine!

We all need to keep in mind that Beauty is a state of mind! My mom always says: “Barbie, If you don’t feel good about yourself you won’t look good.” And I so agree with her!

With the right perspective, we can accomplish anything, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It needs to be a ritual, a routine that we do on a daily basis that will give us the confidence to look and more importantly feel BEAUTYful!

Having the self-assurance to conquer the day starts in the morning. By starting the day with the right mindset, you can rock your beauty within and I’m here today to help you do just that!

So, if you want to find out how to bring out your "Beauty Within" continue reading.

Routine and healthy habits will help you anchor your confidence, allowing you to face the day.

First, It Starts With Getting A Good Night Sleep
Getting your Beauty Rest is so important, this means having at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep. Furthermore, having a great night of sleep also means getting a regular sleeping schedule in place. By going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, you are going to feel much more refreshed and ready to conquer the day.

Excellent Hygiene
Pampering ourselves and giving ourselves a little me time goes a long ways. Even something as simple as a bath and brushing our teeth can put us in the right frame of mind for the day.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

For this portion, I have partnered up with Listerine Cool Mint and Walmart. A smile is the prettiest thing one can wear, and having fresh breath and clean teeth with allow us to change the outcome of the day, one smile at a time!

After I have bathed and washed my face, it is time for my teeth. I’ve been using Listerine products for years, and the Listerine Cool Mint Mouthwash is one of my favorite! It helps to knock out that morning breath as no one likes to be greeted with morning breath at the office. Not only does it kill 99.9% of bad breath germs and bacteria that lead to gum disease, but it also reduces 52% more plaque than brushing and flossing alone! I also like to end my day with the Listerine Cool Mint mouthwash, giving my mouth 24 hour-germ protection!

Hydrate And Moisturizer Your Skin Daily
Yes, I said daily and honestly this is something that we should be doing at any age! But if you neglected it in your younger years, you need to make sure you have a skincare regimen in place starting today! When it comes to skincare, it isn’t just about targeting lines or
fighting wrinkles; instead, the goal is to find ideal multi-dimensional
products that make you look and feel radiant, from your head to your toes! It is important that we
are comfortable in your skin, so even if you are in a hurry you need to
make sure you find time for your skin.

Self-awareness
You want to make sure you have self-awareness, by owning your flaws and, of course, your strengths to conquer the day!

None of us are perfect, we all have flaws! Like Dave Pelzer once said…"To help yourself, you must be yourself. Be the best that you can be.When you make a mistake, learn from it, pick yourself up and move on." So accepting the good, the bad, the happy and the sad is a good thing. Remember mistakes are opportunities for us to learn.

Owning Our Strengths
Most of us don’t do this, as we don’t want to come across as arrogant, but studies show, that women who celebrate their accomplishments are much happier! So make sure no matter how big or small, that you give yourself credit for the things that you do in life.

Celebrating 1 Million Page Views On My Website

Speaking Up
This is also important, but it doesn’t mean you need to be boisterous, instead knowing when or how to say it. That is what makes us Bold and BEAUTYful!

Eating Healthy
The statement you are what you eat is truer than you think. Eating healthy food every day will make our body fit, slim and also look younger. While I know that it is sometimes hard to eat the right kinds of food on a lunch break at work, adding portion control or even packing your lunch can make a big difference in how we look and feel. After eating, I like to make sure that I have fresh breath when I am back in the office. A way to accomplish this in the one-hour lunch break is by using Listerine’s POCKETPAKS®. These little bad boys are my savior to fresh breath on the go as they kill 99% of odor-causing bacteria in 30 seconds! And we all have 30 seconds to spare!

Smiling & Laughing
Smiling and laughing can have an incredible impact on your well-being. We frequently hear that a warm smile is the universal language of kindness. Aside from presenting a more positive image to others, it also can help to reduce stress, as smiling will assist in creating more positive emotions within.

Smiling And Laughing

Change
Being flexible and open to change is crucial. "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the fortune." - John F. Kennedy

We need to be able to change to grow. Being complacent with things will lead us on the path to failure. Appreciating and understanding that life is always changing will make us more successful, happy, and appreciation of what we can and will be.

So beauties, as you can see the overall the goal of bringing out the bold and beauty within ourselves is to take advantage of the opportunities around us! Doing so will allow us to change the outcome in life to something more positive. Which ultimately will encourage relationships, respect and more! By us owning our BEAUTY within, this is what makes us all Bold, Fierce and BEAUTYful!

May 2, 2016

Getting older sure does have its ups and downs, with Gray Hair being one of them. While some may say, “Gray hair is a sign of wisdom or as I like to say... Those aren’t gray hairs they're strands of glitter growing from my head"… Let's be honest although these quotes are cute, there is nothing cute about gray hair, especially if it is before the age of 50!

Unfortunately, I have a lot of gray hair (guess I’m a genius) and yes I cover my gray monthly! But the time in between coloring's seems to shorten, as those grays are not following the 4-week root touch up rule! Those bad boys pop up way too soon, I'm not ready for them! Hence, I need to have a way to hide them into between coloring's, and this is where EVERPRO® GRAY AWAY comes in!

This Is A Sponsored Post On Behalf Of EVERPRO.

Learn About EVERPRO®

EVERPRO® is a brand whose mission is to offer innovative solutions to unique hair concerns. With its high-performance range of easy-to-use hair care products, EVERPRO® provides professional grade salon formulas to be used in the privacy of the home.

To share with you the easiest way to hide your grays in between coloring's, I have partnered up with Everpro®!

I was able to try their Gray Away Root touch-up magnetic powder to cover my wiry gray hair. And let me tell you beauties this product is Fantastic!

The Gray Away Root touch-up magnetic powder provided an instant solution for me to get rid of those unwanted gray roots. You see because I have dark hair, the line where the new growth starts is very prominent. Even worse, as you can see from the photo below, it makes me look bald in some places. However with the Gray Away, I was able to camouflage the regrowth into my colored hair while filling in those false thinning area’s giving me a fuller look!

How To Use

This unique formula attaches along each hair strand like magnets providing the ultimate coverage that stays put all day long. Being in the beauty industry, looking the part is important. So the fact that the Gray Away was self-adjusting and that it blends unnoticeably, has been a blessing in disguise. (disguising my grays). This product is an affordable way (only $9.99) allowing you to save money by extending the time in between salon services.

The black/dark brown was the color that I used. However, there are a total of 3 colors to choose from...

LIGHTEST BROWN / MEDIUM BLONDE

LIGHT BROWN

BLACK/DARK BROWN

In all, these colors will cover 9 shade levels.

Applying The Product

The container was very cute; I love that it is small enough that I can throw it in my purse or take it for travel and the mirror allows me to use it wherever!

First, you want to remove the base to reveal the dome sponge applicator.
This hidden sponge applicator allows for precise control and coverage.
And there are no flyaway's or black dusting left all over the place!

Next, lift the top lid for the powder and dip the sponge into touch-up magnetic powder.

Using the sponge applicator, sweep a small amount of powder over gray roots starting from the scalp and working outward.

Re-apply as necessary.

Lastly, removing the product is very easy as it washes out with shampoo!

While I did apply this all over to cover my grays, I wanted you to see just how great the coverage is by demonstrating this on just half of my head. The front is where I applied the Gray Away Root touch-up powder, and you can see how it blends, matching my hair color perfectly! Plus the mineral-infused powder left my hair soft, and natural to the touch, unlike some other products I’ve used in the past. And the best part, without that gray hair halo I don't look like I'm loosing my hair!

Final Look After Applying Everpro® Gray Away All Over!

So there you have it beauties, the easiest way to hide your grays in between coloring's, with Gray Away from Everpro®!

And as a bonus, I have a 20% discount for my readers. Simply use my discount code NOGRAY20 at checkout, that is valid through 5/31/16!